Wanted: Eager Gardeners in Need of Accessibility

The Spruce Street Community Garden and the Manchester Community College (MCC) Community Garden currently have vacant accessible plots available for gardeners with disabilities. Through a partnership with Communitas, these beds can be reserved for no cost for those facing financial barriers. Both gardens operate year-round, and plots are renewed in March each year. Tools accessible for gardeners with disabilities, as well as gardening assistance (lifting, advice, etc.) are available upon request.

The plots at MCC are 4ft x 8ft and 30 inches high. This height is ideal for people who have difficulty kneeling, and boards can be removed to lower the height for people in wheelchairs. To reserve an accessible garden bed at the MCC Community Garden, contact Joan Kelsey at Communitas at 860-643-5252, or email her at dojo333@aol.com.

The accessible beds at the Spruce Street Community Garden are being built this March and have the ability to be customized to fit the specific needs of the gardener. The beds are funded by a Community Development Block Grant. They are being built through a Youth and Police Partnership program in collaboration with the Manchester Youth Service Bureau. The purpose of this unique program is to build strong relationships between high school students and police through team-building activities and a service learning project. The Spruce Street Community Garden is honored to be the recipient of their service learning project. If you would like a custom bed to be built for you, we ask that you register by no later than March 14th and attend a planning day with the youth and police on March 17th at 5:30 p.m. If you are interested in obtaining an accessible bed at the Spruce Street Community Garden, contact Becky Coates, the Community Garden Coordinator, at 860-647-3089, or email her at rcoates@manchesterct.gov.

The Office of Neighborhoods and Families seeks to better serve the needs of Manchester’s families and neighbors by coordinating communication among policymakers, service providers, and the public, and encouraging community partnerships that promote health neighborhoods and families.